Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 17th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
Lisa Paulson,
Areas closed for avalanche control on Thursday are Mt. Dennis, Mt. Field, and Mt. Stephen. Mt. Cathedral highway paths will also be controlled. No recreational activities in these areas on Thursday.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Snow should taper tonight as a cold front passes dropping the temperatures overnight and through Tuesday by about 10 degrees. Winds should ease and skies will clear with a mix of sun an cloud tomorrow and clearer for Wednesday. Another, small system will cross the region Thursday.
Snowpack Summary
Strong winds over the last few days has created widespread windslabs in the alpine and in some treeline areas. These overly facets in many places, producing moderate to hard test results. The Dec. 2 crust and facets are anywhere from 130 cm deep in thicker parts, and half that depth in thinner snowpack areas such as Mt. Stephen and Mt. Dennis.
Avalanche Summary
This past week, 2 significant skier triggered avalanches occurred on the Dec 2 persistent layer. Only thin windslabs reported by the skihills with explosive control. Otherwise, no new avalanches were observed or reported on Sunday/Monday.
Confidence
Due to the quality of field observations
Problems
Wind Slabs
New snow and wind from Monday has added to the previous windslabs in alpine and treeline terrain. In some areas, once triggered these layers have been enough to initiate deeper layers in the snowpack.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- Minimize overhead exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
This problem represents both the Dec. 2nd crust/ facet layer (treeline and below) and layers of faceted snow that were formed during the late December cold snap (all elevations). If triggered, either layer could result in large avalanches.
- Forecasters are operating with alot of uncertainty at this time.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 18th, 2022 4:00PM
